Helen MacKinven

Helen has also completed an MLitt in Creative Writing at the University of Stirling, and is currently working on her latest novel. She is, by her own admission, a voracious reader, and it made for a very enjoyable podcast.

Favourite book from childhood
My introduction to books was at the library and I remember Mallory Towers by Enid Blyton and The Diddakoi by Rumer Godden, although it was the TV series, Kizzy I first watched.

Favourite book from school/university/teenage yearsTHE CATCHER IN THE RYE: JD Salinger
OF MICE AND MEN & THE GRAPES OF WRATH: John Steinbeck

A book you’d recommend to anyoneA THOUSAND SPLENDID SUNS: Khaled Hosseini
THE SHOCK OF THE FALL: Nathan Filer

A book you couldn’t be paid to read againA CONFEDERACY OF DUNCES: John Kennedy Toole
LANARK: Alasdair Gray
KIERON SMITH BOY: James Kelman

The last book you read or are currently reading:THE CROW ROAD: Iain Banks
AMERICANAH: Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie